scratch a living

phrase

: to earn barely enough money to live
He scratched a living as a farmer.

Examples of scratch a living in a Sentence

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The combination turned a group of Gypsy Romanis, once seemingly destined to scratch a living performing in restaurants, street events or busking on the beaches of Saint Tropez, into a global phenomenon. Fernando Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scratch a living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scratch%20a%20living. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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